How Arsenal became synonymous with black identity

When Dr Clive Chijioke Nwonka walked into a pub in Manchester to meet friends on 28 September 2002, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But he was about to witness a moment in football and cultural history.

That day, Arsenal became the first club to name nine black players in the Premier League squad.

Three of that contingent – ​​Thierry Henry, Nwankwo Kanu and Kolo Toure – were on the scoresheet in the Gunners’ 4-1 away win against Leeds United.

“His performance heightened the impact of this moment of historical and racial importance,” Dr Nwonka, now a professor at University College London, told BBC Africa.

“It showed that their presence was justified based on success.”

Dr Nwonka explored the club’s contribution to black cultural history as co-editor of the recently published book Black Arsenal, which includes testimonies and photographs from those who felt a connection with the north London team.

“I’m a British Nigerian and seeing black and African players represented in British football is important to me,” he said.

Sections of the book analyze Arsenal’s contribution to the influx of black female players into the Premier League and the growing attendance of black female fans at the club’s Emirates Stadium.

“I always felt there was something very important, underexplored, in the ways in which black people found a connection to Arsenal,” Dr Nwonka said.

For die-hard fans, support for their club can permeate almost every aspect of their daily lives, and this commitment is reflected in the book.

“When I say Arsenal, I mean the culture of how important Arsenal is to black people,” Dr. Nwonka added.

“Not the bricks and mortar of a club, but the ways we see Arsenal being referenced in spaces of black cultural density – whether that’s our workplaces, barbershops and churches.”

Wenger and Africa

Ian Wright was the poster boy for many black Arsenal fans growing up in the 1990s, with his gold tooth, charismatic personality and thirst for goals.

Few Gunners fans will disagree with his photo being on the cover of Black Arsenal, but for Dr Nwonka and other Nigerians, there was another important player.

They remember the Nigeria team that beat Argentina to win the Olympic gold medal in 1996 and, in particular, the man who scored the decisive goal in the semi-final victory over Brazil – Kanu.

Born in Imo State, the striker joined Arsenal from Italian giants Inter Milan in 1999.

“His coming to Arsenal was of particular cultural importance to me and people like me,” said Dr.

Arsene Wenger, the then Arsenal manager, was known for buying French and African players and nurtured some of the continent’s biggest names during his 22 years in charge, from 1996 to 2018.

Facing a bad patch, critics in the British tabloids would say he should sign more established players better suited to English culture.

But the Frenchman gained huge respect for his management model when Arsenal won the title in 2003-04.

That triumph was reinforced by the fact that Wenger’s team did not lose a single game – a feat that has yet to be repeated.

That team, nicknamed the Invincibles, included Ivory Coast defender Toure and Cameroonian right-back Lauren, along with Kanu.

“It’s one thing to have African players who are doing well and having fun, but winning makes a difference,” said Dr Nwonka.

This model of success is why some fans of “new school” African football support Arsenal’s London rivals, Chelsea, whose dominance of English football under José Mourinho has featured icons such as Ivorian Didier Drogba, the Ghanaian Michael Essien and Nigerian John Obi Mikel.

Fighting racism

Despite the impressive success of black football players, racism remains a widespread problem on and off the field.

In 2021, following the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, three English players – Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford – faced racist backlash online after missing penalties in the shootout.

Eleven people were arrested and Arsenal released a statement in support of Saka and his Three Lions teammates.

“This cannot continue, and social media platforms and authorities must act to ensure this disgusting abuse that our players are subjected to on a daily basis ends now,” he said.

However, Saka has received more abuse since then, including after a defeat to Nottingham Forest last year.

Racism remains the most reported form of discrimination at all levels of English football this season, according to statistics gathered by anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out.

Gamers from ethnic minorities are often instantly targeted by online trolls and denied a sense of belonging to the nation – even if they were born and raised in the country they represent.

Dr. Nwonka thinks racial prejudice is also reinforced by the language used to describe black players, which he considers “heavily racialized, reductive, negative and ignorant.”

His observation reflects recent findings from two Dutch universities about racialized discourses about black and white athletes.

“White (athletes) are often socially constructed as intellectually superior and hard-working, while black athletes are associated with physical strength and a biological predisposition to excel in sport due to their physique,” ​​said the study from Utrecht University and the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

While generations of players have actively resisted old racist stereotypes and narratives, Dr. Nwonka believes a sense of respect and appreciation “has been long overdue.”

Arsenal’s future

This season, Arsenal celebrated their African heritage and connection to the continent with their away kit, whose color scheme matches the Pan-African flag.

Sierra Leone-born Foday Dumbuya designed the shirt and its official trailer was filmed in the country’s capital, Freetown.

“It was good to return to where I come from, to see the way children connect with football, the way people look at football in Africa, because football is life,” said Dumbuya.

As someone who grew up in London, Dr Nwonka describes an Arsenal shirt as “the uniform” of the city.

He feels that a similar trend is reflected on the African continent.

Saka, born in London to Nigerian parents, is adored by Arsenal fans as a ‘starboy’ – a slang term for a young male celebrity – and was a big part of the launch of the new away kit and associated clothing collection.

The 23-year-old has made more than 230 appearances for the Gunners and has been outspoken about fighting racism and cultural insensitivity in the game.

“He transcends his race in so many ways. It has a cross-cultural appeal being British and Nigerian,” Dr Nwonka said.

As such, the baby-faced winger has established himself as a Premier League and international regular, and is an inspiration to the next generation of footballers and fans, regardless of their background.

He is the latest in Arsenal’s growing history of black icons.